[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=53231.28

Oasis' chosen as name for new splash pad

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - A splash pad will make a splash in Washington Park sometime next year under the official name "The Oasis."

The Park and Recreation Board voted Thursday to approve the name, which harkens back to the Oasis Ballroom in Washington Park in the 1900s.

Board member Tom Milcarek said the splash pad name was apt for another reason.

"It is kind of an oasis in the sand," he said.

The board tried to complete the splash pad earlier this year, but bids came in at a budget-busting $400,000.

To save money, the park department will serve as the general contractor and hire subcontractors for parts of the job, according to Shannon Eason, the department's interim director.

"The (park) maintenance department will do a lot of the demolition and get the site ready," Eason said. "It'll be pretty much what we did with (Krueger) Memorial Hall."

The Oasis will be located at the present site of the Washington Park tennis courts. The park board has authorized an equipment purchase totaling $164,597 from Reese Recreation Products, Arlington Heights, Ill. Bids for installing the equipment are due Dec. 19, Eason said.

Bids are due today for subcontracted jobs, including roofing, carpentry, plumbing and other construction tasks.

Eason said the splash pad design includes a pump house that will have a concession stand and restroom. Gerald Fedorchak of G.M. Fedorchak and Associates designed the project, donating some of his services. Park board attorney Patrick Donoghue also donated services.

The Oasis will be paid for with $500,000 in capital improvement funds. Operating costs will come out of the 2009 budget. Eason said she's in the process of researching costs for similar projects in other parks.

q

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Tom Burns]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=53231.28

That is an old news story. It broke last week.

[Ang]

Yeah, well...

We don't ALWAYS scoop the N-D

[Tom Burns]

Yeah, well...

We don't ALWAYS scoop the N-D

My comment was not a criticism of City by the Lake, just an expression of surprise that the newspaper would only now publish a news story broadcast last week on WEFM. However in every market where we operate local radio, newspapers seem to be making drastic cuts in staff and service. That is not good.

[Craig1971]

This is a waste of money.........There is a great big lake out there to play in........

[Homey]

I have to agree with you Craig1971.

Too bad we can't lure one of those family water resorts to build here. They have some nice facilities in Wisconsin. Maybe the economic develpment director could get busy trying to entice them. And just think, it would offer year round jobs.

[Southsider2k12]

This is a waste of money.........There is a great big lake out there to play in........

In this economic crisis, I agree 100%. $400,000 is 6-10 or so jobs with full benefits for the City. I would rather have them working than another tourist play stop. It can wait a year or two until things clear up.

[Tom Burns]

I have to agree with you Craig1971.

Too bad we can't lure one of those family water resorts to build here. They have some nice facilities in Wisconsin. Maybe the economic develpment director could get busy trying to entice them. And just think, it would offer year round jobs.

There is already one planned for the New Buffalo south side, just a few miles away. Could two that close be viable?

[Homey]

There is already one planned for the New Buffalo south side, just a few miles away. Could two that close be viable?

Yes, I saw that before. They have several in the Wisconsin area...maybe we could make ours more competitive

[Tom Burns]

This is a waste of money.........There is a great big lake out there to play in........

"Relax it is only a FISH"


or maybe a fly!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0ZtE9Om47A

[Roger Kaputnik]

1971, think of how many times the lake is not open to swimming. And you know there are tons of people at the Park picnicking, and the splash pads actually sound like a great way for people, especially those with young 'uns, to have another way to play.

[Ang]

I'm with Roger on this one. How many times have the beaches been closed due to high e-coli, or rip tides? The splash pads are perfect for young and old alike.

[Craig1971]

There has been talk for years for some kind of water park to be placed somewhere near Washington park but for some reason it keeps getting shot down. I know that sometimes it is not safe to go into the lake but out of a summer season how many days is the lake closed? I just think the money could have been used for something better like building better boat ramps in the harbor........

[Roger Kaputnik]

It is not just for people to use when the Lake is closed; since I am in that area, I see the Park loaded with lots of families with little kids all the time. This is a close-by attraction that allows the family to do different things: Softball, sit and chat, volleyball, grill, eat, and splash. No downside.

[ChickenCityRoller]

Most of the little kids who drown in the lake at the beach drown because the parents aren't paying attention. Although you can drown in a couple inches of water, I'm gonna say this will be a safe alternative to the lake for parents who don't want to do their job.

[Roger Kaputnik]

I am picturing the multigenerational picnics I see all the time there.

[Ang]

There has been talk for years for some kind of water park to be placed somewhere near Washington park but for some reason it keeps getting shot down. I know that sometimes it is not safe to go into the lake but out of a summer season how many days is the lake closed? I just think the money could have been used for something better like building better boat ramps in the harbor........

I realize that boating is HUGE in the area, but not all people have access to boating. This will give people something to do at the beach besides boating. I know that I will be visiting the splash pad the first opportunity I get.

[ChickenCityRoller]

The boat ramps are fine. The only problem is the ones in the harbor need to be dredged out more frequently.

[Craig1971]

The boat ramps are fine. The only problem is the ones in the harbor need to be dredged out more frequently.

With the lake water levels so low the ramps are not long enough, the only thing that can launch is PWC and small boats........

[ChickenCityRoller]

With the lake water levels so low the ramps are not long enough, the only thing that can launch is PWC and small boats........

I attributed that to the sand moving in the harbor. I know there's a lot of sand at the ramp in the harbor but you do have a point with the water level being so low.